Welcome to Breazy’s beginner's guide to vape hardware. Today we're talking tanks, the part of an advanced personal vaporizer (APV, or just "mod") that holds your e-liquid until it's ready to be vaporized. Most of our time here is going to be spent with the device you're most likely to encounter on a modern entry-level mod: the sub-ohm clearomizer (because it's clear), or "tank." There are other types of tanks we'll name, but not discuss, later.

In this section we're going to cover the main piece of hardware used in vaping: the vape mod. Before we dive into the types here, it's important to know that this term is used rather loosely in the vape world, and its meaning is not always as clear cut as we’d like it to be. The first type of vapor device to hit the market in the late 2000s was the cigalike, a portmanteau of "cigarette" and "alike" because it was roughly the same size and shape as a combustible cigarette.

Pod mods are compact e-cigarettes that store e-liquid that in a self-contained pod. They are compact, easy to use and inconspicuous. There are two types of pod mods: Closed and Open System. Closed systems have sealed pods that are pre-filled, and open systems have refillable pods.

When vaping first gained mainstream popularity around 2013 vape pens were all the rage, and to this day they retain a committed fan following. Even if you don't know it, you're probably already familiar with pen style vapes. They were the first compact vape devices to catch on that weren’t cigalikes in that they didn’t look and function like cigarettes. While they have been largely eclipsed by the newer technology of vape pods, they still hold up as a solid entry-level device.

A “Pod Mod”is a type of e-cigarette that is generally considered to be a good fit for beginners because of its simplicity, portability and ease of use. Pod mods (sometimes referred to as vape pods or cigalikes) remove most of the complexity from vaping with their dummy-proof designs, and we mean that in a good way. Pod mods are compact, adjustment-free, user-friendly devices that offers an easy entrée into vaping.

The word cigalike is a combination of “cigarette” and “alike” because these devices were originally designed to look and feel like cigarettes. Why? Because the primary function of first generation e-cigarettes was to mimic the experience of smoking cigarettes. The cigalike can be thought of as an electronic version of an analog (combustible) cigarette. That’s why these light, compact, adjustment-free devices are the easiest way to get into vaping and often the first point of entry for those switching from cigarettes. Using a cigalike involves no tinkering, no troubleshooting, no learning curve.

So, the time has come. You're ready to start vaping. By now, you've had a chance to educate yourself, weigh the pros and cons, and decided that switching to vapor products is the way to go. Still, one question remains: how do you choose what type of vaping device to get started on? In this piece, we'll cover all of the ways you might opt to vape, from the most basic to the hottest new tech. Let's start with a rundown of all your options.

Nicotine: it's one of the simplest and yet least-understood compounds in the natural world. In other articles in Breazy’s vaping educational series, we dive into into what it is and what it does, but in this tutorial let's focus on the most practical of approaches. How much nicotine should you be using when you vape?

Vaping is so closely associated with nicotine that many can’t even conceive of nic-free e-liquid products. However, products with zero nicotine have been around for as long as vaping has existed and have gained popularity with every new generation of innovative products. Now, more than ever, big-name brands are offering popular flavors in nic-free options that allow vapers more freedom to regulate their nicotine intake.  

Nicotine is a common ingredient in vapor e-liquids, and salt-based nicotine is the latest development to take the vaping industry by storm. Over the last year, salt nicotine or more simply “nic salts,” have become increasingly popular. This is because some vapers, especially ones who are newer to vaping, have moved away from high-powered advanced personal vaporizers that use traditionally extracted nicotine at lower concentrations. Instead, they’ve opted for low-power, high-nicotine options such as cigalikes and pod mods that use nic salts.

Since vaping generally involves nicotine, it’s important to understand what nicotine is, its dangers and its effects. Nicotine is an ingredient found in most e-liquid formulations, but since it’s associated with cigarettes it has a bad reputation, which is unmerited since the vast harms wrought by cigarettes have nothing to do with the nicotine they contain.

The first thing you'll notice upon arrival at breazy.com (or any other reputable online vape site) is a pop-up asking you to confirm your age as 21 or over. While the extra step may seem like an inconvenience, it’s just one of many safeguards we put in place to combat underage vaping and comply with government regulations.